Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-IA) has previously criticized the NIH’s enforcement of financial conflicts of interest. A 2008 report by the HHS Office of the Inspector General stated that the NIH lacked oversight of conflict of interests at grant-receiving institutions. …

“It is outrageous that doctors who are testing and, in many cases, recommending the use of certain high-risk medical devices are being compensated with stock in the very companies that make the devices. …

When rumors recently began circulating that a union drive might be brewing in San Francisco, the response from the company was immediate–including mandatory “Morale Meetings” to dissuade employees. But company leaders failed to address workers’ complaints that they have gone without any pay raises, sometimes for more than two years, because Team Leaders have neglected to hold “Job Dialogue” meetings (known as “annual performance reviews” in traditional corporate-speak). …

A serious financial crisis is inevitable when you live too far above your means for too long. This applies whether you’re talking about a single-family household or an entire country. As this article points out, countries in crisis need to learn to live within their means – just like you and I. This may mean increasing exports and cutting imports. …

Hamburg, not-so-coincidentally, is an expert on pandemics as well as bioterrorism, the Wall Street Journal reports. A spokeswoman for Sen. Ted Kennedy, who chairs the committee, told the paper that it’s a “high priority” to get Dr. Hamburg confirmed, stat–at least in part because her expertise “will be an invaluable resource” in handling the H1N1 outbreak. …

The international drama playing out right now before our eyes is an example of how citizens around the world can be easily manipulated by doctors and politicians engaging in fear mongering in the name of disease control to forward agendas that have more to do with ideology, power and corporate profits than health. …

Taking effect July 1, the policy prohibits any pharma-funded gifts and entertainment, no matter how small their value. Drug reps will be restricted to no-patients-allowed parts of the teaching hospital and its clinics–and will be allowed even in those areas only by invitation. And beginning in 2010, the school will also bar free drug samples. …